| 释义 |
roundness|ˈraʊndnɪs|
Also 4 rond(e)-, 5 rownde-, 4–6 rounde-, 5–6 rownd-.
[f. round a.]
1. a. The quality of being round; rotundity.
c1374Chaucer Boeth. v. pr. iv. (1868) 164 Þe same roundenes of a body O, oþer weyes þe syȝt of þe eye knoweþ it, and oþer weyes þe touching. c1400Mandeville (1839) xiv. 159 And righte as the Perl of his owne kynde takethe Roundnesse, righte so the Dyamand..takethe squarenesse. c1400Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483) v. xiv. 107 In a round spere ne ben mo partes of shap but only the roundenes. 1545R. Ascham Toxoph. (Arb.) 127 Roundnesse..is fittest shappe and forme..for fast mouing. 1590J. Stockwood Rules Construction 48 The depth, height, squarenes, roundnes, of a thing. 1642Fuller Holy & Prof. St. iii. xxii. 213 The diamond hinders the roundnesse of the ring. 1701Norris Ideal World i. ii. 99 Roundness being comprehended in the idea of a circle. 1774Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) VIII. 149 A figure which bears some resemblance to..the roundness of a kernel. 1832Brewster Nat. Magic vi. 148 Distant objects concealed by the roundness of the earth.
fig.1845Maurice Mor. Philos. in Encycl. Metrop. II. 604/1 It is a set-off against this consideration, that roundness and completeness are the great characteristics of Aristotle. 1927E. M. Forster Aspects of Novel iv. 98 Dickens's people are nearly all flat (Pip and David Copperfield attempt roundness, but so diffidently that they seem more like bubbles than solids).
b. Fullness, plumpness (of figure, etc.).
1829Lytton Devereux i. ii, His figure..destitute of the roundness and elasticity of youth. 1838― Leila i. iv, Leila was of the lightest shape consistent with the roundness of womanly beauty. 1886G. R. Sims Ring o' Bells ii. iv. 64 Of late the little face had lost its roundness.
c. Of numbers: (see round a. 7 a).
1841Myers Cath. Th. iv. §34. 352 A certain roundness of numbers..we may readily anticipate, when whole centuries are in question.
d. out-of-roundness: see round n.1 5 e.
2. Compass; circumference. Now rare or Obs.
1382Wyclif Wisd. i. 7 The Spirit of the Lord fulfilde the rondnesse of londis. Ibid., Dan. iii. 45 Thou art the Lord God aloone, and glorious vpon the roundenesse of erthes. c1400Mandeville (Roxb.) xx. 90 We schuld hafe sene all þe roundeness of þe firmament, þat es to say bathe þe emisperies. Ibid. 93 So mykill hase þe erthe in roundeness all aboute. 1527R. Thorne in Hakl. Voy. (1589) 253 Under the which is comprehended all the roundnesse of the earth. a1596Spenser Ruines of Rome viii, One would weene that one sole Cities strength Both land and sea in roundnes had survew'd. 1604E. G[rimstone] tr. D'Acosta's Hist. Indies i. ii. 6 These two elements, having their bounds and limits within their own roundnes and greatnes. 1664Evelyn Pomona vii. (1729) 72 Let the reserved Branches be divided at a convenient roundness.
3.
†a. A circular course; an orbit; a spiral or ring. Obs.
c1374Chaucer Boeth. iv. metr. vi. (1868) 144 Ȝif þat he ne clepiþ nat aȝein þe ryȝt goynge of þinges, and ȝif þat he ne constreynede hem nat eftesones in to roundenesse enclined. 1572J. Jones Bathes Ayde ii. 14 They framed brasen pypes, which they rouled into many roundnesses, so y⊇ pypes did resemble the Spyres of a Dragon.
b. A round object or formation; a rounded projection.
1382Wyclif 1 Kings vii. 35 In the cop forsothe of the foot was a maner roundnes, of a cubite and a half, so forgid, that the watir vessel myȝte be sette there aboue. 1541Copland Guydon's Quest. Chirurg. G ij b, Towarde the elbowe ben receyued ye roundnesses. 1549Compl. Scot. vi. 55 Ane grit roundnes of lycht sal gyf lycht to mair nor the half of ane les roundnes. 1580Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong, Condyle, the roundenesse or knots in the knee, anckle, elbow, and knuckles. 1631Widdowes Nat. Philos. 45 Lettise hath his leaves gathered into a curled roundnesse. 1708Phil. Trans. XXVI. 112 'Twas all over cover'd with a great number of exceeding small rising roundnesses.
4. Fullness or careful finish of language or style.
1557Sir J. Cheke in Hoby tr. Castiglione's Courtier ad fin., The roundnes of your saienges and welspeakinges of the saam. 1579E. K. Ded. Spenser's Sheph. Cal. §1 The whole Period and compasse of speache so delightsome for the roundnesse. 1622Fotherby's Atheom. Pref. p. xx, I haue..hindered not the context, and roundnesse of the speech. 1727Bailey (vol. II) s.v. Stile, The roundness of periods charms the ear, and affects the mind. 1741Middleton Cicero (1742) III. xii. 321 That roundness of speaking, as the ancients called it, where there was nothing either redundant or deficient. 1856Emerson Eng. Traits, Literature, A good writer, if he has indulged in a Roman roundness, makes haste to chasten and nerve his period by English monosyllables. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) II. 110 Are you and I expected to praise..only the clearness and roundness of the language?
†5. Uprightness, straightforwardness, openness.
1557N.T. (Genev.) Rom. Argt., Euery man to walke in roundnes of conscience in his vocation. 1586T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. i. 400 Let all faining and dissimulation be banished from us, and all roundnes and integritie of hart and maners appeere in all our actions. 1628Sir R. Le Grys Barclay's Argenis 126 Gelanorus knowing him to be of a most clear roundness, turned out of his way to him. a1649Drummond of Hawthornden Hist. Scot. (1655) 38 The roundness of his intentions and his honesty.
6. Plainness or severity (of speech).
1619Visct. Doncaster in Eng. & Germany (Camden) 103 I returned this rough answere... For which roundnes, though I have sufficient warrant.., yet it may be I should have spared some part of the harshnes.
†7. Energy, activity; thoroughness. Obs.
1629Decl. Apprehension Bp. Chalcedon 36 [That] they and every of them proceed with all diligence and roundness..against the said Smith. 1709Strype Ann. Ref. I. iv. 83 Had it not been for Cecyl's Widsom, Diligence, and Interest with the Queen, in all likelihood it had not proceeded with that Roundness it did. |